Thorkild’s Song Artwork by James Gifford
Phosphor Art's James Gifford was recently commissioned by Oxford University Press to illustrate Thorkild's Song by Rudyard Kipling in his signature Graphic Novel style. The poem is from The Puck of Pook's Hill, originally published in 1906 and is sung by a Danish seafarer hoping for wind. We're looking forward to receiving our copy of the book with the text on James' gorgeous illustrations. For now you can read the poem below...
There's no wind along these seas,
Out oars for Stavenger!
Forward all for Stavenger!
So we must wake the white-ash breeze,
Let fall for Stavenger!
A long pull for Stavenger!
Oh, hear the benches creak and strain!
(A long pull for Stavenger!)
She thinks she smells the Northland rain!
(A long pull for Stavenger!)
She thinks she smells the Northland snow,
And she's as glad as we to go,
She thinks she smells the Northland rime,
And the dear dark nights of winter-time.
She wants to be at her own home pier,
To shift her sails and standing gear.
She wants to be in her winter-shed,
To strip herself and go to bed,
Her very bolts are sick for shore,
And we-we want it ten times more!
So all you Gods that love brave men,
Send us a three-reef gale again!
Send us a gale, and watch us come,
With close-cropped canvas slashing home!
But--there's no wind on all these seas,
A long pull for Stavenger!
So we must wake the white-ash breeze,
A long pull for Stavenger!The image that originally caught the eye of the team at Oxford University Press was James' Joan of Arc illustration. See more in his portfolio.
James Gifford is represented by Phosphor Art
